Everybody's Got A Lie To Tell, And It's Good For Us

Any fan of true crime knows all crime involves a lie. It could be a false statement to a victim who’s about to be scammed, maimed, or killed. Perhaps, the next lie will be to the cops.

And of course, all criminals, I think, lie to themselves.

Hey. Guess what? You’re no better than them, at least when it comes to telling a lie.

Okay. I’m no better than you.

We all fib every day. We can’t help ourselves. We just lie. But here’s the question of the day: How many times do you lie in a day? And, an even more critical question: Are you any more deceitful than the rest of us?

Social psychologist Bella M. DePaulo, of the University of California studied this question in 2003. Her test subjects filled out “lie diaries,” which led DePaulo to the conclusion that the average person makes up about two stories a day.

Of course, she had first to trust that her subjects weren’t just spinning a yarn and were telling her the truth. But let’s just say they all were truthful. This time.

Here’s the big news. According to an article in the Scientific American, fibbing is good for us. Turns out, most of us would have a hard time coping with life if we didn’t lie.

Don’t believe it?

Think of telling a “lie” as “rationalizing.” Remember what Jeff Goldblum’s character, Michael, said in “The Big Chill.”

Michael:
I don't know anyone who could get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations. They're more important than sex.
Sam Weber:
Ah, come on. Nothing's more important than sex.
Michael:
Oh yeah? Ever gone a week without a rationalization?

Love - Lust - Lies

Cathy and Phil are ready to start up where they left off in high school -- in total lust. They just have to tell a few lies to get there.